Ohio EPA to inspect holding tank in Nile Township

Ohio Furnace Youth Group

September 21, 2012

WAYNE ALLEN

PDT Staff Writer

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed Friday that inspectors with the EPA Division of Surface Water will be at the Nile Township Fire Department next week to conduct an inspection of a suspected compromised collection tank.

The inspectors are going to the department based an anonymous complaint to the EPA that a waste management tank has been compromised.

According to Mike Settles, Ohio EPA Spokesman, “Ohio EPA approved a permit to install a septic system and holding tank at the department in April of 2011. In the call that came into us, someone is alleging that the tank in question was punctured, so that it does not have to be drained or pumped out.”

According to Settles the EPA has 14 days to respond to received complains.

“We are still within that time frame and investigating the situation,” said Erin Strouse, Ohio EPA Spokeswoman.

At the Monday, Sept. 17 meeting of the Nile Township Trustees, questions were asked by residents of the trustees about the situation.

“It is our understanding that a required waste management tank was installed to retain contaminants washed off the fire trucks after each fire. It is our understanding that this tank was pumped one time within a month of the new department opening,” said Dauphane Thompson a resident of Nile Township at Monday’s trustees meeting.

According to township officials, the tank in question is designed to hold 1,200 gallons.

“We have reason to believe that this EPA required tank has been compromised and that the contaminants are now leaching out into the water table,” Thompson said.

According to Thompson, the tank cost $15,000.

According to the trustees, they were not aware of the tank being compromised.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.